Casinos go to great lengths to train their dealers to make sure they can accurately deal the casino
games they are assigned to work on. Most dealers are very accurate and are quite
knowledgeable about the procedures for playing the games. This does not mean
that they are experienced in the proper strategy for the games. In fact the
strategy advice given by some of the dealers can be just the opposite of the
correct play. Don’t assume that because a dealer knows how to deal the game,
they know how to play it.
A Perfect Example
I was playing Blackjack the other day in an eight deck shoe game. The table was
full and the dealer’s up card was a four. The player at third base (the last
person to act before the dealer) was dealt a pair of nines. When it was his turn
he split the nines as called for by basic strategy.
He drew a ten on each nine. The dealer then turned over her down card and revealed a ten giving
her 14. She drew a card and got a seven giving her 21.
The others players at the table started berating the player for splitting the nines and the dealer agreed and said to him, “It’s
your fault, you had 18 and should have stayed. You should always stay with 18.”
Normally I try to keep a low profile at the table
and never give unsolicited advice however I could not stand by while this player
who made the correct play was being chastised by the dealer. I said to her,
“Based on math of the game he made the correct play according to basic
strategy.”
The dealer turned to me and said, “The math has
nothing to do with it. He had 18 and should have stayed.”
I was not about to get into and argument with a
dealer who was to ignorant to know to know that playing basic strategy reduces
the house edge. This is a perfect example that shows that many dealers do not
know how to properly play the games that they deal.
Reducing the House Edge
Casino games such as Blackjack, Let it Ride, Caribbean Stud and other games that
require a player to make a strategy decision have a house edge that can be
higher if the correct playing strategy is not used. Anyone playing one of these
table games should learn the basic strategy to reduce the house edge to the
minimum.
Learn the Game
Relying on advice from anyone at the table can be detrimental to your bankroll.
It is your money that you are risking at the table. You should take the time to
learn to play the game properly before you sit down and risk your money. There
are numerous resources available that can give you the best strategy for
reducing the house edge on every casino game. Take the time to educate yourself
before you play. There is an old adage that Free advice is worth the money you
paid for it; Nothing.
Keeping a
Gambling Log Book
Tax time is around
the corner. If you were one of the Lucky people who won money at the Casino, you
may find that you are not so “Lucky” when you fill out your taxes. Uncle Sam
loves to share in your joy by claiming a bite of your winnings for himself. That
is exactly what happens to many “Winners” each April 15th, who don’t keep a
gambling diary or logbook.
The IRS requires the casinos to report any wins
over $1,200 on slot and video poker machines or other games such as keno lottery
or hose racing. When you have a win equal to or greater than $1200, you will be
issued a W-2G form. This form lists your name, address and social security
number. The casino will require proper identification before you are paid your
jackpot. This is the reason you should always carry a valid form of
identification with you when you visit the casino.
A copy of the W-2G goes to the IRS and you are
required to list these winnings when filing your income tax. The law allows you
to deduct gambling loses up to the amount of your winnings. You can only do this
if you have documentation of your loses. Keeping a diary or logbook, is the way
to do this.
A proper log should contain;
1) The type of game and serial number of the machine you played.
2) The date and location where you played.
3) Your wins and losses for each session or game.
4) Additional evidence of gambling activities.
Your log book must be accurate and should be filled out as accurately as
possible. I find it best to record my sessions in a small notebook which I carry
with me to the casino. I then transfer this into a spreadsheet on my computer
when I get home.
In most cases the IRS will accept this log
however I am not a CPA and the best advice I can give you is to consult a
professional if you do have a big win at the casinos.
If you don’t keep a log book already you should
start with your next visit to the casino. Many players wait until they do hit a
jackpot before they even think about keeping one. I once read about a player who
finally hit a large progressive jackpot. It happened on New Year’s Eve. He had
been losing all year long but he had no documentation to prove his losses and
was required to pay taxes on the full amount.
There is another reason to keep a log book that
does not have anything do with taxes. It’s to keep track of your own personal
wins and losses. Some players tend to remember only the wins and forget about or
minimize their losses. It’s not uncommon to hear players say they broke even or
had a little loss at the end of the year. Keeping a log will help you put
playing in perspective and give you an honest account of the money you are
spending for your casino entertainment. Knowing that you are keeping track of
your losses may keep you from getting carried away and losing more than you
should have during your visit.
If you play a game that requires skill such as
video poker, live poker or blackjack it is vital to keep a log of your playing
sessions. This log will help you evaluate your skill level. If you are
constantly having losing sessions then you may need to do a little more studying
of how to play properly. I have a separate section in my log for every game that
I play. This helps me to have an accurate accounting at the end of the year each
game so I know which games have been the most profitable.
Many player think that keeping a log is time
consuming or unpractical. In reality it takes only a few minutes to do and you
will be glad you did when you hit the big one.
Ben Franklin said, “The only sure thing is Death
and Taxes.” We all have to pay taxes but we don’t have to give Uncle Sam any
more than we have to.
Resolve to
Play Smarter
Wow! Another year flies by and now as 2004 heads into the
history books we turn the page and start a new chapter in our lives entitled
2005. Each year many of us start by making resolutions to improve ourselves or
change some undesired habit. You know the ones I’m talking about. We all have
made and broken them year after year. They sound good on New Years Day but most
resolutions go out the within a week or two. Some psychologists theorize that
the reason this happens is because we don’t have the passion required to give it
our full effort in order to make I work. The resolutions and goals that do get
achieved are the ones that we enjoy doing and find pleasure in accomplishing. So
this year why not just resolve to have more fun doing what you like to do. Since
you logged on to this site one of your interests is obviously visiting the
casinos and playing casino games.
This year you could
make a New Years resolution to “have more fun in the casino”. That sounds simple
enough but if you are like me, the real fun in the casino comes from winning. In
order to be a consistent winner you have to play smarter when you visit the
casino. So let’s change the resolution from” have more fun in the casino to “I resolve to play smarter in the casino!”
There are several ways you can accomplish your
goal to be a smarter player and I will give you some suggestions. If some these
suggestions sound familiar it is because I wrote about several of them in my
column during the last year.
I resolve to always use my player’s club
card. Not
using your player’s card is the equivalent of turning away free money. The
casinos give you comps for your play and the only way they know how much to give
you is by tracking your play. If you don’t use your card they can’t track you.
I resolve to read a book about my favorite
game.
Knowledge is power and you can get your knowledge by reading about your favorite
game and studying the strategies to help you make the best decisions that will
help you win at the tables.
I resolve to take advantage of casino
promotions. Many casinos run promotions to attract players. These may include
special drawings, tournaments or double point days. Taking advantage of these
promotions will is a smart way to get a little something extra. Many promotions
are listed right here in The Gaming Guide.
I resolve to learn a new game. Table games have a
lower house edge than the slot machines when you learn to play the correct
strategies. If you are a slot player why not give a table game a try. If you
play the table games why not learn a new game for a change of pace. Poker is hot
right now and it is a game that you can have the edge over the other players.
I resolve to have a game plan. Many players simply
go to the casino with a pocket full of money and jump from game to game until
all their money is gone. You can have a much better time if you just spend a few
minutes to make a plan for your next casino visit. Know ahead of time how long
you will play, how much money you want to risk and what other activities you
will do there.
I resolve to keep a gaming log. Smart players keep a
log book. The law allows you to deduct gambling loses up to the amount of your
winnings. You can only do this if you have documentation of your losses. Keeping
a diary or logbook, is the way to do this. It is the beginning of a new year so
NOW is the time to start your log.
Those are a few of my suggestions that can help
you play smarter in the upcoming year. You don’t have to do them all, just pick
the ones you like but do resolve to do one or two.
You don’t have to wait until a New Years to make
a resolution. You can decide any time that you want to be a smarter player.
Table Game
Etiquette
Slots and Video
Poker can be fun but it is a solitary adventure. Table games are exciting and
they also give you the chance to interact and share the excitement with fellow
players. Other than live poker, it’s the players against the house while playing
table games and camaraderie exists among the players. It is easier than ever to
learn to play the table games.
There are many great books that will teach you the basic
rules. Once you know the rules games can be practiced on the computer with
Tutorial Software before you take your step into the casino. Some casinos offer
free lessons that will teach you the basics of the games as well as some of the
basic table game etiquette for each game. If you don’t have the opportunity to
take a lesson there are only a few things you need to learn before jumping in to
the action.
Here are a few tips
on Table Game Etiquette.
Table Limits
All table games have a placard located somewhere on the table that will tell you
the minimum and maximum bets. At the blackjack table you will sometimes see
rules for the games such as splitting aces or double after split posted in the
card as well. The card on craps tables can list the amount of the odds bet you
are allowed. Some placards are color-coded corresponding to the denomination of
chips to alert you to the table limit. Five-dollar tables will have a red card
and $25 tables will have a green card. Always look for these before sitting
down.
Joining the Game
At the Blackjack table, look for an empty betting square. Sometimes players play
more than one hand so an empty chair does not always mean there is an open
space. For craps, look for an empty space on the rail and belly up to the table.
If you see and empty chair at most other games it means there is room for you.
Buying In
You must convert your cash into chips when you play table games. Dealers are not
allowed to take cash directly from your hands. You must put your money on the
table and ask for change or chips. They will take your money and give you your
chips. Wait for the hand being played to be over before buying in. If you’re
playing craps wait until the shooter has rolled the dice. Never put your money
on the table in the middle of a throw. Roulette tables use special chips for
that table only. When you buy in you tell the dealer what denomination chip you
want. Roulette chips must be cashed in at the table where you are playing. They
are converted to casino chips. All casino chips are converted back to cash at
the cage.
General Tips
Blackjack players must give a hand signal to hit or stand when playing a shoe
game.
Craps players should avoid leaning over or placing your hands in the table area
when the shooter is rolling the dice.
Keep your emotions under control. Dealers are only the messengers. If you are
losing don’t take it out on them.
Avoid giving unsolicited advice to others.
If you become upset with the play of others, leave the table.
Set loss limits and stick to them. Set aside some of your profits when winning
to take with you.
Quit when you get tired.
Have fun but remember Chips are real Money. Comps
Always give your players card to the floor person or ask them to rate your play.
Never play higher stakes or longer than usual to qualify for comps.
ASK the floor person for a meal comp. They will let you know if you qualify.
Ask politely never demand.
These tips will help to get your started enjoying some of most popular table
games. Give it a try. Its fun and exciting.
Free Table Game Lessons
Has this happened to
you? You read a book or watch a video tape to teach you a new casino game like
Blackjack or Craps and you feel that you are ready to play the game at the
Casino. When you get there however, your confidence slowly slips away and you
are not sure if you actually want to sit down at a table. Don’t worry you are
not alone. Many people experience a little fear the first time they try a new
game. But there is help. Many of the bigger casinos offer FREE lessons for table
games. This is an excellent way to get over your initial fear of sitting down to
a new game. Usually the lesson entails an explanation of how the game is played,
the rules and proper table procedures that you need to know. This is then
followed by some actual play with “funny money” or non-value chips.
By playing these
practice hands you can get a real feel for the flow of the game. Sometimes the
casino will also offer a live game with lower table minimums after the lesson.
You will be sitting at a table with new players and it will help you relax.
During a recent trip to Las Vegas I attended a
few lessons at different Casinos. I wanted to see if they were teaching the
games honestly or if they were actually giving advice that would lead you to
make the bets that were to the house advantage. The majority of the instructors
gave out accurate information. At tone casino, the instructor, Jimmy told the
students during a blackjack lesson that their house rule of hitting soft 17 was
a disadvantage to the player and they should not take insurance when the dealers
up card was an Ace. After the lesson I asked him about his honesty during the
lesson. He told me that most people interested enough to take a lesson to learn
a game are intelligent and will probably read more about a game after the
lesson. If they are not given the truth during a lesson they will not have much
faith in the casino and will go elsewhere to play. I think that is a smart
approach for a casino to take.
There are a few reasons to consider lessons at
the casino. If you are curious as to how a game is played but not sure it is
something you really want to play, you can get a pretty good idea during a
lesson. If you find that it’s fun you can go on to study it further. I advocate
taking a break between gambling sessions and taking a free lesson is a great way
to get away from actually gambling while still participating in the thrill of
the action.
Finally some of the casinos offer incentives for
taking lessons. Sometimes after the lesson “Match-play” coupons are handed out.
With a match-play coupon, you bet $5 and receive $10 if you win. One casino was
giving out a coupon allowing you to get $25 in chips for a $20 buy in. That
equates to free money.
Not All casinos offer lessons and some of them
only offer lessons during week days. You can find out if the casino you visit
has them by inquiring at the promotions, or slot club booth. It’s FUN it’s FREE
and a great way to learn a new game. Why not give it a try.
